Posted by Peggy Mann
a resident of John Baldwin Elementary School
on Sep 3, 2007 at 7:59 pm

Thank you so much for doing the story on Brendon Rose. I have been following this case for over 3 years and I'm hoping that your story will help to make a difference in overturning the injustice done to this young man. I emailed your story on to over 50 of my friends and family members. It is wonderful to have a newspaper cover important stories about our own community members.
Thanks again, Peggy Mann (27 year resident of Danville over which time I have been active in many of our community's non-profits).

Posted by Dawn Thornton
a resident of Alamo
on Sep 5, 2007 at 11:21 am

Diane Rose is a well-known and well-respected member of the Alamo/Danville community, and her family's tragedy deserves attention. More than that, it demands scrutiny. Thank you for the very well-written story, which I hope will bring a wider and more influential audience to Brendon's plight. Mr. O'Reilly and Mr. Duvall were very generous in giving the Rose family national exposure on this issue; I applaud and encourage further and consistent follow-up and updates in the local and national press.

Posted by Shana
a resident of another community
on Sep 27, 2007 at 5:18 pm

Hey Bud...yes, he did kick the guy in the head and guess what, he knows he did something wrong. You obviously didn't read the article or really pay attention to what Diane Rose was saying. It's people like you, with your ignorance and quick judgment that create this kind of injustice. Do you really think a college brawl deserves 8 years in prison? And funny how no one ever discusses that it was Jed Bober and HIS friends who actually started the fight and who have histories of starting fights in and around Santa Clara University; Mr. Bober was in no way an innocent bystander.

Posted by Call me Mike
a resident of Danville
on Sep 28, 2007 at 9:52 pm

This line kind of sums up this whole situation:
"The report ... said he was self-centered, non-remorseful and has all his family and friends in Pleasanton fooled."
That statement applies to the whole Rose family, if you ask me. What a bunch of self-centered whiners. Instead of worring what to wear to prison, the mother should be dressed in orange picking up litter on the freeway.

Posted by Someone's Mom
a resident of another community
on Oct 4, 2007 at 3:25 pm

I have to say after reading all of this, I can see both sides. As a mother, I would not want to see my child hurting, rotting in a prison cell. Also as a mother, I would not want to see my child in a hospital bed, in a coma, or physically damaged for the rest of his life. So, if given the choice between which horrible situation my child should be in, perhaps jail is the better alternative?

Posted by A friend
a resident of another community
on Oct 4, 2007 at 8:12 pm

I grew up with the Rose brothers and to hear that the report said Brendon "has all his family and friends in Pleasanton fooled" makes me sick. I believe he deserved a punishment but if you have read Interesting relevant/related articles from the website www.Saveourrose.com, you will see that Brendon's crime and punishment do not go together.

Posted by A Parent
a resident of another community
on Oct 7, 2007 at 3:01 pm

Sadly a young man has gone to jail and his family is hurting from the loss and yet through all of the attention and efforts of this site i had to struggle to find reference to the real victim, a young man who has been branded a criminal even though he was attacked by Rose. Then, when Brendon should have re-focused his attention on the other purported attackers he chose instead to continue his assault on the victim by kicking him in the head, according to the thought process here if the victim had died then he shouldn't be guilty of murder because gee he didnt mean to kill him....Sorry but when you deliver a kick to someone else's head you have to expect it to be a crushing blow, if it had been my son lying there possibly with a fractured skull i would have to say the sentence should have been longer....8 years is a gift......

Posted by Mary L
a resident of another community
on Oct 9, 2007 at 7:19 am

If I may ask, what ever became of Bober? Was he and the other assailants ever charged?
As a mother this just makes me sick....esp. when so many people get by with so much crap.....Good Luck, keep the faith, there may be a reason.

Hi Shana. It's obvious to me that you don't know a damn thing thing about the penal code. The FACT is, Shana, one kid was already down on the ground. The other kid KICKED HIM IN THE HEAD. And by the way Shana, the use of a foot to the head, i.e., KICK, is considered assault with a deadly weapon. Had the victim on the ground not recieved serious injury, said suspect/defendant, would have been charged with PC240/242 instead of PC245. Mr. Rose would have spent time in jail or been placed on a lengthy probationary period. Instead, the young man, now rests in a california state prison. Diane Rose insisted on saying it was "...about the kick." Damn right it's about the kick. But it's not just about the kick. It's about the injuries receive from the kick. I'm sure your asking yourself how I know so much. I'm in my 19th year working as a correctional officer. I know the criminal justice system, warts and all, a hell of a lot better than you do. I saw more fights in my first year than you could possibly witness in a lifetime. And for you to say Mr. Rose knows he did something wrong? How do you know? Regardless of who started the fight, Shana, the victim was on the ground. The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), as brutal as it is, doesn't even allow kicks to the head when the opponent is down. If I took an inmate down and kicked him in the head I would lose my job and then find myself on the losing end of a civil lawsuit. In closing, Shana, the next time you want to call someone ignorant, make sure you know YOUR facts.

"What is absolutely sure is that, at one point, Brendon Rose punched Bober in the head, instantly knocking him out. Bober tipped over backward like a felled tree and struck the back of his head on a concrete driveway with a thud that one witness compared to a "coconut busting." The sound was so loud that the fighting stopped."

"By all accounts Bober was unconscious. He was lying in the street with his head and shoulders on a driveway. His breathing was labored, and he was ashen. As the partiers hanging out on Bellomy Street watched, Rose stepped onto the driveway, drew back his leg, and kicked Bober in the temple with enough force to fracture his skull."

So, the guy on the ground is knocked out, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, people. Mr. Rose then decided to kick the victim in the head. Wow. And Diane Rose and the other knuckleheads wonder why Brendon is serving an 8 year prison sentence? It is what it is folks. THE VICTIM WAS UNCONCIOUS. HE WASN'T FIGHTING BACK. THE FIGHT WAS OVER. Rose is lucky he din't get more time. What a cowardly act. The crime most certainly fits the punishment.

Among all the commentary concerning Brendon Rose, it is evident that many quickly commented without study of this case or study of fair and equal justice.

If one were to review this case and cases with the same charges, such study would show that Brendon did not receive reasonable representation, fair and equal justice or any fair review of his sentencing after the fact.

We can all differ on our perception of justice, but I am quite sure we do not differ on our desire for equality of justice.

Spoken like a true lawyer, Hal (defense attorney perhaps?). "...such study would show..." Hey Hal, are you saying you studied other cases like this one only to put your two cents in? Give me a break.

And what's with the doublespeak? "...but I am quite sure we do not differ on our desire for equality of justice." I differ with you, knucklehead, because you can't define what justice is. Read the penal code on assault, nitwit. Oh, and by the way, on an 8 year sentence in CDC, you only do half time which would give Brendon 4 years with good behavior. But I'm quite sure you already knew this.

Seems to me you're the only one worrying about my life, jackass. Oh, and by the way, I guess you are not mature enough for a debate based on the childish comment you just made. You must be a friend of Shana.

Unlike you, who lives in a plastic bubble, I tend to think in terms of the "real" world. Taking potshots at me doesn't address the issue(s) at hand. Your lack of experience and education in this matter clearly shows ignorance. I would mention stupidity but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

Posted by friend
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Nov 15, 2007 at 9:40 am

You are a seasoned "Bully". You must have been the biggest bully on the playground "Bud"... You have managed to "name-call" each of your "victims". This must be fun for you! knock it off and get a life.

You said "victim," I didn't. Funny, I never looked at it that way. Um, victim of what? Please clarify. Also, you are calling me a bully? Wow. Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black in the name calling department, don't ya think? Are you not able to engage in debating the topic at hand? Are you really that inept? See, this is the problem with uneducated people, such as yourself. Debate the issue Friend from WC. Call me a name, whatever. But please focus on the article, not me. Oh, least I forget, Friend from Danville already told me to get a life. Please come up with something more original next time. Seasoned bully? Ah, you must be referring to my writing style. And for that, I thank you :-)

Posted by Serious Guy
a resident of another community
on Nov 15, 2007 at 7:08 pm

People - I urge you all to stop posting here. It is obvious that this "Bud" person either truly does not have a life or is being paid by the friends of Mr. Bober to monitor and participate in this comment board. Since "Bud" has absolutely nothing of value to offer this board, I suggest we all abandon our participation. This is my last post. And I will not be back to read either.

Anyway, on a more serious note...Serious Nut, a resident from another community, is accusing me of being paid off by friends of Mr. Bober. Wow! Facts please? And to think I was just exercising my freedom of speech as covered under the 1st Amendment!

And isn't it interesting how Serious Girly Guy wants everyone to abandon this comment section just because he doesn't agree with how I see things. He said, "This is my last post. And I will not be back to read either." Hold on, let me get a bucket to collect my tears. What a sissy. A little tender under the skin, Guy?

For me, the personal attacks have become great folly in a rather absurd theatrical sense. I have become somewhat of a celebrity on a Danville Weekly discussion board about an article that appeared in August of 2007. It's now November and people tell ME to get a life? LOL.

At some point I will tire from the darts and daggers sent to me from poison pens. But until then, GETCHA POPCORN READY :-)

Posted by A grandmother
a resident of another community
on Dec 16, 2007 at 6:58 pm

This incident reveals the kind of thing parents have nightmares about -- that their kids will go out and get into a situation they cannot handle without severe jeopardy to their own lives and/or the lives of others. Too often it involves drinking or other substance use. And in many instances, from a legal point of view, how a fight begins is not as important as how it ends. I am sure all the relatives of the parties involved are sick at heart.

As far as the sentence itself is concerned, sentencing often seems to be inconsistent and unfair. People have killed people and received lighter sentences. But attempts to use standard or mandatory sentencing rules do not always work either.

The animosity expressed in some of the comments makes it clear that we are all closer than we like to think to violence of thought, which often escalates to violence in deeds. Can't we realize that none of us totally knows every corner of this case, and that there is ample right and wrong all around. Empathetic yet rational discussion should be possible without verbally attacking each other.

Very well put in terms of verbiage and the like. But once again, I believe you, like all the others, miss the point. A guy is unconscious on the ground while another guy kicked him in the head. Why can't people understand the judge's wrath on the sentencing issue. If the victim had been kicked in the head while he was conscious, the outcome would have been very different. The fact is the victim couldn't defend himself. This is why the judge sentenced Mr. Rose to 8 years. Santa Clara County doesn't mess around with violent crime. I know, I work there.

As far as people killing other people and receiving lighter sentences go, please point out to where someone killed someone and received less than 8 years. The only way a person could receive less than 8 years would be if it was a manslaughter issue or self defense. Remember, Rose committed a deliberate violent act. He had time to think about what he was going to do. Oh, and remember the victim suffered from neurological problems after the fight. Remember, Rose was NOT defending himself. Rose defended his brother by knocking the victim to the ground. The fight should have ended right there.

I don't know Rose. I don't know Bober. I'm writing this from a law enforcement point of view. A FACT is a FACT. That is all I was trying to say until people started to attack me. Serious Guy (listed above), and an obvious friend of the Rose family, told people to stop commenting on this article because he couldn't take the heat from me. I decided to have a little fun with the man and that was that.

In closing, Granny, I do agree with much of what you say. But the world is a cold hard place. Society is really cracking down on violent crime. It is sad that such a young man has to be sent to prison for such a foolish act on his part.

Life isn't always fair. But I strongly agree with the judges decision in this case.

I cant help but crack up as I read these posts. It seems everyone except one can handle a difference of opinion.

"BUD"- You seriously have some anger issues. You say your a correctional officer? Thats funny, you seem to have a bit of an issue when it comes to dealing with conflict. And if you would like to stick to the facts, I believe your missing some. Yes Rose kicked Bober when he was down... Yes that was horrible... But what about Bober and his friends jumping the other brother and initating the fight? Tell me, If your twin brother was being jumped...would you or would you not defend your blood? Im not saying that kicking someone in the head is in any way suffcient, but in the heat of the moment, after you grabbed a man off your brother, punched him and he fell..would you then check to see if he was concious or not? Would you take the time to make sure he was okay while 10-14 of the other friends continued to jump your brother? I dont believe you would, I dont believe anyone would. Now...On the other hand...

I and my signifcant other are in law enforcement with the Contra Costa County so please dont act like everyone else on this post doesnt understand facts about crime and punishment. Your name calling and low blows to other posts shows your extreme lack of maturity and I only hope that the other "Correctional Officers" of your statue handle disagreements in a much more constructive way. YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE THAT GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT A BAD NAME. Its amazing to me that we allow such ignorant, disrespectful people such as yourself to represent which should be known as a respectful and honorable position.

Posted by Bud
a resident of San Ramon Valley High School
on May 28, 2010 at 11:26 am

Let's see...my last post was Nov. 28, 2008. Today is May 28, 2010. And you are just now responding to this post, Court C? And you say that you and your hubby work in law enforcement? Really...?

Court C wrote:

"...while 10-14 of the other friends continued to jump your brother?...".

Where in the article does it say 10-14 friends of Bober jumped Rose? You made that up, which of course lends to the lack of credibility about you working in law enforcement.

Also, I'm only going by what Diane Rose said. And yet there you are injecting emotion into the issue by calling me ignorant. Logically speaking, a presenter of facts cannot be considered ignorant of the issue at hand.

The fact that you don't back the probation officer, D.A. and judge on this incident makes me question your association, much less employment with Contra Costa County S.O.

Oh, by the way, Oakland PD is accepting applications at this time. Good luck.

Bud I'm just glad I don't live next to you and have you out in your lawn calling the police when people park two feet from the curb or when college kids have their friends over at 10:00 p.m. But, it is obvious that you were picked on growing up and scavenge message boards trying to go after anyone who think will listen. I went to high school with Brendon Rose and the "person who interviewed Brendon in the probation office," couldn't of been farther off about the credibility of one individual. He will be pillar in the community when he gets out. This a young man that was looked up to by coaches, teachers and parents. I am not trying to justify that it is alright for him to kick Bober while he was down. Fights breakout in college towns like this everyday and if Bober had not started this fight then B rose would not be serving jail time. Young kids do not realize the severity of fighting, but one punch or kick can change someone's life. Hopefully students will learn that fighting doesn't solve anything. While I was in college their was a fight outside my house, where my brother or myself were not involved but a kid was drunk and started yelling and my friends got in a fight with these two young men, which was not the right thing to do. But the young man started this altercation by bringing a golf club and following my friends to outside my house and hitting one of them in the head with the golf club from behind. One of my friends retailated by defending himself with his fists. The person to start the fight called the police and they did a police line-up outside my house, which I found out later from our private investigator was illegal and what I would expect by the police officers that they throw in college towns as probation after they have done something wrong. The kid picked my brother out of a photo line=up who was sleeping during the entire incident and I stayed inside because fighting doesn't solve the proble. When the took him away in handcuffs I said he was sleeping how can you say he was involved, the officer said wouldn't you believe to be asleep if you were going to jail. So to wrap this up, what Brendon did was not right, but if guys like Bober, who probably have never even gone to college, but invade college parties to their thirties, this incident would have never occurred. It sounds like he has come from a family from dirtballs and probably just gone done filming cops at their house. I am glad Brendon is finally getting released in seven months, but for a dirtball like to not have compassion for his family who was misrespresented is sickening. Enjoy your afternoon with your beercan and your overhanging beer belly with your shirt off and unemployment. Also, it sounds like Bober overplayed his injuries to make a buck, probably how his family taught how to make money by cheating the system. If Brendon wasn't misrepresented, his brother wasn't confronted by a drunk idiot and the probation officer was farther off, he wouldn't of served eight years in prison. But unfortunately, Brendon was an example, but is a man. When he gets out of prison he will be a pillar of the community.

Posted by member
a resident of another community
on Aug 2, 2010 at 7:12 am

Just to be clear, Bober did go to college and he wasn't out to get a buck from this whole incident. He was the one in a coma for over a week and will have constant reminders of this incident from what he suffered through his injuries. Brendon gets jail time and will be out soon. Both partied here will deal with this the rest of their lives. Regardless who is at fault for this its a bad situation overall. No one was in the right for what happened. It was the kick to the head which landed Brendon in jail not the fight. I don't care who you are, you don't kick someone in the head once they are already down and unconcious.

Don't miss out on the discussion!Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.

Email:

Post a comment

Posting an item on Town Square is simple and requires no registration. Just complete this form and hit "submit" and your topic will appear online.
Please be respectful and truthful in your postings so Town Square will continue to be a thoughtful gathering place for sharing community information
and opinion. All postings are subject to our TERMS OF USE, and may be deleted if deemed inappropriate by our staff.

We prefer that you use your real name, but you may use any "member" name you wish.

Name:*

Select your neighborhood or school community:*

Comment:*

Verification code:* Enter the verification code exactly as shown, using capital and lowercase letters, in the multi-colored box.